Wildlife-rich Lake Naivasha is both a scenic stop in its own right and a great base for hikes to Hell’s Gate National Park and Mount Longonot.
Set in the Rift Valley floor 90 kilometres northwest of Nairobi, Naivasha is a near-circular freshwater lake fringed by lush forests of fever trees and overlooked by the ragged-edged of the volcanic Mount Longonot. Though it is accorded no official protection, the lake supports a fair amount of indigenous wildlife. Giraffe, hippo and waterbuck may be seen almost anywhere on the lakeshore, which is also one of the most rewarding bird sites in Kenya, offering an opportunity for the experienced to clock up 100 species before breakfast. Conspicuous water-associated birds include African fish eagle and the great white pelican, while noisy Fischer’s and yellow-collared lovebirds are among the most decorative and common woodland species.